Summer Surf challenge tests girls

FOUR Sunshine Coast lifesavers will trade the red and yellow uniform for sparkling ball gowns this weekend as they gear up for the announcement of the 2011 Jupiters Summer Surf Girl.

Throughout the surf lifesaving season, Amy McGrath, Zoe Giles, Ella Tanner and Lydia Allen have balanced their weekend patrols with the planning and execution of innovative fundraising events to boost their club’s profile in a bid to win the prestigious challenge.

Today the women head for the Gold Coast to be put through their paces during a four-day judging period filled with promotional lifesaving demonstrations, public speaking, and deportment classes with 11 other Queensland entrants.

The winners will be announced at a gala ball on Saturday night.

Ms Allen, of Dicky Beach, a second-time entrant, made surf-girl history during the 1008-09 season when she raised $118,356.34 for essential rescue equipment for her club. The 20-year-old said fundraising had been a little tougher this time, with many families impacted by natural disasters, but the community had been very supportive.

Meanwhile, Peregian Beach entrant Ms McGrath, 25, has paved a new path for her surf club as its first entrant and says the experience had been a steep but rewarding learning curve.

Ms Tanner, 21, has reignited the surf-girl flame for the Mooloolaba club, which has not had a competitor since 1998.

And Marcoola entrant Ms Giles said she looked forward to spending the rest of the week with like-minded “genuine beach chicks” and learning their tricks of the fundraising trade to pass to her successor next season.